March 27, 2024 at 6:00 PM - Water Committee Meeting

Rationale:  Randy Kavan received an approved variance for LPN-V-023-0599 on October 2023 for SW1/4 14-15N-7E, Saunders County.  He wants to move this variance to SE1/4 14-15N-7E.  Attached is the map showing the movement of the variance location.  

Rationale:  Vavina Farms purchased property in SW1/4 33-16N-4E, Butler County.  (2 miles NW of Bruno).  They currently have an irrigation well, G-064907, in the middle of the East Half of 32-16N-4E, where they irrigate 66.79 aces. The 3-year average for this field is 5.17 acre-inches/year. They are requesting an expansion of acre variance which would decrease their current 27-inch rolling allocation to irrigate the additional 64 acres in Section 33.   They would be irrigating 130.79 acres with a 13.79 acre-inch allocation over 3 years.  Map attached.
This well is in the LPNNRD water level network with a graph attached.  

The committee discussed the locations of the domestic wells in this restricted (red) area. The committee asked for further information like FSA cropping information, soil types and slopes.  When the information is obtained, the committee will discuss this situation.  

Rationale:  At the February Water Committee, an application from Lower Elkhorn was presented for Lee Comenzind, who owns a parcel of land in the NE1/4 S22-18N-R8E, Dodge County, located in LPNNRD.   The well G-064422 is located in the NW S23-18N-8E, Dodge County, located in LENRD also owned by Lee.  Keith Johnson wants to swing the pivot completely around on both tracts, as shown by the map.  LENRD completed its ranking process on variances for adding additional acres where the tract of land in LPNNRD qualified to be approved from the well located in LENRD.
The Committee asked staff to develop a policy on handling inter-district transfers.  Attached is a policy that LE emailed to LPN staff that Don Blankeau assisted in developing.  The policy states that the consumptive use is assigned to the well location, where this site has a 7.14 AF depletion.  Also attached is a map drawn by LPN staff to compare it to LE.  The map shows little differences.  This site scored 552.8 using LPN scoring sheet. 
LE also had an application in Madison County that was not approved with the well located in LPN district.  If the policy is approved, this site will submit a variance application to LPN. 

If the Committee moves forward, a motion will be needed to approve the policy and then Lee Comenzind request for acres.  No motion came from the Water Committee.

The Committee would like to consider a policy with Lower Elkhorn NRD only and not a general policy for all surrounding NRDs.  If the policy is completed and Jovan reviews before the board meeting, action could possibly be taken.  

Rationale:  Curtis Corp applied for a 'well permit to pump 350 GPM to fill a pond in the SE NW 30-17N-10E.  Other well permits to supply water to ponds have been approved previously.    
Attached is the application and map.  

Rationale:  The annual Coalition Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 23, from 1:30 - 3:30 pm at the Lake Wanahoo Educational Building.  This Board approves the IMP reports from each participating agency and next year's budget.  
Information on the agenda, budget and last year's minutes are attached.  

Rationale: 

For 2024 we have 134 renewals and 1 new permit application for a current total of 135.  Inspections for 0 renewal permits have been completed.

Rationale:  The staff started measuring wells last week.  

Rationale:  Attached is a proposal to complete a nitrate assessment of Shell Creek, which could also assist the communities of Newman Gove and Platte Center.  At budget time last year, $25,000 was budgeted to start the project on the contingency that Source Water Protection Grants were approved.  They have been approved for 2 of the communities, with the other elected not to proceed.  The Shell Creek area has seen an increase in nitrate levels and this would help in determining the vulnerability and best management strategy.   The total cost of the project will be $36,500 with the remaining amount budgeted for next fiscal year.  

Rationale: 

4 new wells have been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting. 

 

Rationale: 

4 wells have been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month. The total amount paid for the Fiscal Year so far is $7,696.82. Expecting more invoices from well drilling companies in the next couple of months.

Well Owner	Type of Well	Cost Share Estimate	County
Mike Heldt	Irrigation	$1710.00	Saunders
Tyler Fredrick (UNL)	Irrigation	$1414.50	Saunders
Carol Goering	Old well and windmill	1014.55	Platte
Roger and Nancy Gehring	Old well with windmill	$989.52	Platte

 

Rationale:  Staff have received invoices for the following flow meter cost-share.   The following individuals are eligible for payment. 
Betty Wachal - 5 meters at $1,000/meter for $5,000
Joan Wachal - 4 flow meters at $1,000/meter for $4,000
Jeff Wachal - 2 flow meters at $1,000/meter for $2,000.
Jack Seckman - 1 flow meter at $1,000/meter for $1,000.
Allen Svatora - 2 flow meters at $1,000/meter for $2,000.
Dan Bock - 1 flow meter at $1,000/meter for $1,000.
Maxine Jedlicka -1 flow meter at $1,000/meter for $1,000.
Colleen Wachal - 2 flow meters at $1,000/meter for $2,000.
Jay Jedlicka - 2 flow meters at $1,000/meter for $2,000.
Todd Bailey - 2 flow meters at $1,000/meter for $2,000.
Jeremy Vanicek - 1 flow meter at $1,000/meter for $1,000.
Dennis Waak - 1 flow meter at $1,000/meter for $1,000.
Connie Wachal -  2 flow meters at $1,000/meter for $2,000.

Received 4 flow meter applications from Russ Shonka for $1,000/meter
Received 1 flow meter application from Richard Hoppe for $1,000/meter.
Received 2 flow meter applications from Allan Shonka for $1,000/meter
Received 2 flow meter applications from Jedlicka Family Partnership for $1,000/meter.
Received 1 flow meter application from Gary Wachal for $1,000/meter.
Received 4 flow meter applications from Mark Horejsi with Mark as tenant on 3 for $1,000/meter. 
Received 2 flow meter application from Ron Klug for $1000/meter.
Received 1 flow meter application from Lloyd Cuda for $1,000/meter.

The current amount committed for flow meter cost share is $94,000.

Flow Meter Applications were sent to Dan Zoucha. 
Clint Jedlicak requested 2 applications for Gravity to Pivot Conversions for $10,000 per site.   

Josh Falty called on March 21, 2024, to notify staff that he is still working on his SDI irrigation system, which has a conversion contract from last fall for $10,000.

Information on CEC for nitrogen applications.
https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/cropnews/2011/02/fact-or-fiction-ammonia-application-should-not-exceed-10-lb-n-unit-soil-cec

https://www.kuglercompany.com/crop-care/cation-exchange-capacity#:~:text=The%20rule%20of%20thumb%20is,things%20dramatically%20as%20CEC%20changes.

https://kochagronomicservices.com/knowledge-center/debunking-the-myth-soil-cecs-impact-on-nitrogen-management
 

Rationale:  Staff met with Jon Mohr of LRE to start the update of the Groundwater Management Plan.  The plan is to hold a couple of stakeholder meetings in April.  
Invoice attached for $3,371.50 per contract.  

Rationale:  Last year the Committee/Boiard voted to support 2 sites with pumps and satellite imagery to assist in variable rates of nitrogen.  The Board budgeted $10,000 per site for a total of $20,000, with only 1 site utilizing NRD funding last crop year.  This year one of the sites will be Joe Birkel's south half of the field, which the north half was used last year.  The idea is to look at this research in a multiyear field to determine if issues might arise the second time around.  Next year the north half will be used for the second time.  
The other site will be around Colon on one of Chris Meduna's fields, which will also have a demonstration day this summer.  Staff will be ordering the second pump for this field the first of next week.  

Rationale:  The next meeting is April 24 at 10 am at the Educational Building at Lake Wanahoo. 

Rationale:  Attached is the annual support plan on the Phoenix Database.  The past 2 years, the District supported the Silver plan for $3,600.  

Rationale:  Attached is some information about an electronic meter to measure water levels down to 500 feet.  The NRD has some wells where water levels are dropping below 300 feet and the NRD steel tape has been spliced a couple of times. Steel tapes at the present times are not being produced, so staff would like to purchase this electronic tape to measure the deeper groundwater level depths.  Staff have returned some equipment to In-Situ and currently have credit with the company.   The invoice for this water level meter is for $1,105.90. 

In-Situ VuLinks (telemetery unit for data logger) have been placed out in the field at our monitoring wells and some irrigation wells where we are using the gravel pack tube as a sort of monitoring well. 62 units were originally purchased with 43 fully operational on the website. We will get the remaining units up and running in the next few weeks.

Rationale:  Attached is a brief update on Water Leaders Academy